Windows 7 M1 Build 6519 Review
Monday, June 9th, 2008With Windows Vista completed and finally behind us, it’s about time to turn our attention to the next big OS coming out of Redmond. Formerly codenamed Windows "Blackcomb" and "Vienna", Windows "7", as it is now called, will be the successor to Windows Vista.
I recently received an early M1 alpha build of Windows 7. Anxious to try it out, I installed it and found some interesting changes.
Windows 7 M1 Build 6519 is actually somewhat old, first shipped to Microsoft partners in December 2007. Now expired, but no matter how old it may be, it has some interesting new features compared to Windows Vista. Here is a brief run-down of them.
Desktop
The desktop of Windows 7 is almost identical compared to Windows Vista. However, you will notice a few minor changes here.
Sidebar
The sidebar has been integrated into the Desktop. It appears to be moving from an application to more of a shell feature. You can find options to add gadgets and hide gadgets through the Desktop context menu.
If you choose to add gadgets, they now appear in an Explorer Window.
Note the new Media Center Sidebar Gadget.
Another feature that is not really new, but present in pre-releases, is the Windows Feedback button, also present in a gadget on the Sidebar.
Feedback Button and Gadget
Taskbar
The Taskbar has a few minor changes. A new gradient serves as the background.
Tray Icon behavior is also new. Hidden Tray Icons are now displayed in a box above the Taskbar rather than on it.
Customization
The Desktop context menu now carries a new choice for playing around with your screen: Display.
The Personalize dialog is left virtually unchanged; however, if you want to change your screen resolution, you’ll have to chose the Display option. By default it brings up new options for DPI scaling.
If you want to change your screen resolution, you need to chose the option in the left pane.
Control Panel
The Control Panel in this build is fairly similar to that in Vista. Gone, however, are the categories in the left pane; but added to the list of choices is the option All Control Panel Items.
Windows Aero
Windows Aero is a carbon copy of Vista in that of animation and looks; however, there is one noticeable change. Maximized Windows are now transparent.
Also present is a slider to make the search box larger.
Calculator
The Calculator in this build has received some long, over-due updates. New programming and Statistics views have been added.
New Explorer View
A new view, called Smart Details, has been added to Explorer and greatly resembles the Tiles view.
Start Menu
It’s now easier to pin items to the Start Menu. Next to each recently used program is a pin icon. Click it, and it will pin the program to the Start Menu. Click it once it’s pinned, and it will unpin it.
Instant Search on the Start Menu has also been updated. The results now take up the entire panel, making it easier to concentrate on results.
Winver
Winver identifies the OS as Windows 7 Ultimate Edition. On the contrary, it’s build number is still in the Vista build tree – not yet at 7.0.
Recycle Bin Context Menu Icon
The Recycle Bin context menu gets an icon for Empty the Recycle Bin.
New Programs
Bundled with build 6519 is an XPS Viewer and a TS Workspace application.
Paint
Paint now gives you the option to have a ruler and grid on the canvas.
Windows Media Player
Media Player has also been altered. There is no longer a "Now Playing" view. Instead, you are brought straight to the Library, where you can build a playlist.
Final Thoughts
The features I have highlighted above appear to be the main new features in Build 6519 of Windows 7. Build 6519 behaves and performs identical to Windows Vista SP1. There are numerous talks that Windows 7 will bring a new UI and a smaller kernel, so I look forward to experimenting with future builds to see if they will become reality. As of right now, Build 6519 is worth playing around with for anyone who is interested in the world of Windows, but there are no major changes here yet.
